Wow, good question. I think what would be the biggest and fastest help is that American pool needs a sympathetic media partner. Right now the coverage is mainly internet based, and while just about the entire world has a computer or an Ipad or smart phone or some of that type of electronic device I'm willing to be that a very small percentage of the
computer/electronic-owning population seeks out pool / billiards on the internet. Pool needs a good story and a major media outlet to report it.
I've read on this web site the idea of a reality show. I'm not a big fan of reality shows but looking at this objectively, a reality show would at least (probably) put it on prime time.
I think pool also needs a real, true "governing body." The organizations can maintain memberships and remain separate but they need to find a way to unite under one umbrella, not the BCA, not the APA, but maybe some Administration with some oversight authority and possibly a commissioner or someone in authority where the buck stops. The Federation of American Billiards (FBA)? or something like that.
The media partner doesn't need to be ESPN or NBC or anything so huge, but maybe an internet company that is looking to to mainstream into a cable channel, or one of the Euro channels that would like to establish an American presence.
And pool needs an identity, a recognizable face or faces, one that's not a gambler or hard drinker, A role model, one for the girls and guys, maybe it's own (I hate to say this...) maybe it's own Tim Tebow. Currently the most recognizable face is probably Jeanette Lee. A beautiful, strong lady, and seems to present a pleasant personality. But still, outside the billiard world, relatively unknown.
The pool community needs to unite and force it's way into the Olympic stage maybe as a team sport playing several different disciplines then singles in several disciplines, similar to the way gymnastics is presented. Getting a whole country in your corner would have to be the fastest way to improve the image and make a new generation of players run out to purchase their own cue.
The pros need to find a way to come together. A few years ago when there was the Tour (Pro Billiard Tour?) I don't know exactly what happened, but apparently some of the sponsorship fractured and so did the players. CJ, was Cuesports International an alternative organization that competed with the PBT? Much in same way the World Football League or the USFL did. Only in pool all the organizations died. I wish the pros, male and female would find a way to establish a playing organization that would also play under the FBA (or whatever you'd call it.
Lastly, for now, find a way to give Jean Balukus whatever she wants to re-enter the billiard world. I didn't see her much except on old film or You Tube, but from what I've seen and read, she seemed like one of the strongest examples of an excellent role model that pool ever had.
...and that's a start